Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Opinions on my new setup

meeee-owww, baby.

Just in case any one goes looking at Halos at Good Guys, don't even think of buying from them. They will sell you a set, and then delay delivery in hopes of making a deal with you on the demos. They can no longer purchase Parasound products, and have about 30 stores with the Halos on display, I learned this info the hard way.

Damn, I was just heading out to Good Guys to buy some Halos. My puny Denon just isn't cutting it for me anymore.

Dennis, I was in goodguys fresno(somebody has to live here) a week ago browsing around and noticed that parasound wasn't on display anymore. I asked the salesman why and he said they no longer have a contract with them. Its a shame they put the screws to you.

Btw now goodguys are selling monster amps instead.

Man! since I know what you really ordered, I was laughing butt off.

Ya, GG had the Monster amps, and the Halos were thier top line units, may be they are just going to stay with Monsters now. *shrug* But then CompUSA bought out Good Guys, so who knows how the stores will change.

TNT, on the power cord thing, this is yet another absurdity that has sprung up in the past few years. Standard power cords are rated to handle well over 1,000 watts and, for example, even are adequate for hair dryers which typically use 1,500 watts or more continuously at full blast. Audio receivers are nowhere as severe a burden as are hair dryers. The audio engineers who worked to design a product which would provide audibly flawless amplification don't then sabotage their own amps with something which wouldn't allow it to work as designed.

This does create yet another opportunity for the charlatans peddling exotic cables to prey on the gullible. Despite the implausibility of the entire concept it was recently the subject of a blind listening test reported here by a writer with a history of sharing many of the bizarre audio delusions which float around. Again, the results were a random distribution around 50%, including an individual who even after the test(but before he was shown his results)was confident that he had clearly recognized differences.

Well that sure was a diplomatic totally unbiased post done with thought towards those that have already posted their own views.

Problem is, it still doesn't address why oh so many manufactures recommend not crossing analog cables over power cords? Perhaps your correct when you state they would not do anything to sabotage their own amps but what about other components in the system? Keep in mind JohnK, that not everyone here agrees with your views and you posting and implying that we are fools when you don't agree with something is getting a little annoying.

Not everyone who sells after market audio products is a charlatan and you implying such is rude. Don't paint everyone the same color with that cynical brush you like to wave around. Hell re-read my post in particular and review the following:

In reply to:

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Does it make it sound any better? Unless you had interference in the first place, I doubt it

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The power of suggestion that I learned the hard way today:

I finally installed my QS4 rear centre channel - popped in X-Men 1.5 to give it a listen. I was shocked and amazed at how much "fuller" the THX opening was, and how much more enveloping the rain in the prison camp was over just the surrounds.

Then I realized I hadn't enabled the Rear Centre on the receiver.

Yes, the power of suggestion is a wonderful, wonderful thing...

Bren R.

NeverHappy,

I'll agree and disagree with you. JohnK has not once implied that people who purchase cable-based system improvements are fools. He is perhaps the most straighforward, no-nonsense, nothing in-between-the-lines poster on this board. Also, there is a big difference between 'foolish' and 'gullible'.

I do agree, however, that many manufacturers are not charlatans but believe wholeheartedly that their products make a beneficial difference. They do no deserve to be lumped in with the charlatans, but the claims they make should be tested, nonetheless.